BMW M3 News

There is a good chance the car will have a triple-turbo six-cylinder engine, replacing today's V8 just as the M5 has moved from a V10 back to a V8.The body tweaks look fairly subtle in this Carparazzi shot but the wider arches including carbon fibre-reinforced plastic to save weight.Expect it here next year with a price tag of about $150,000.

The family yesterday turned down a bid of $146,000 for the orange high-powered sports car. The 2010 BMW M3 has only 6926km on the clock but yesterday failed to meet a secret reserve set by Tomic's father John during a Brisbane auction. Pickles Auctions manager Robert Webster said the Tomic family had negotiated with the highest bidder, a mysterious interstate buyer, but had failed to reach an agreement. "It will be up to the Tomic family whether or not they re-list the car for auction. They may sell privately or through a dealer,'' he said. "They spent around $200,000 for the car in 2010 and they were expecting a higher return.'' The failed sale comes just two weeks after the 19-year-old was pulled over three times and fined twice by police in less than two hours on Australia Day. Police also charged Tomic with three traffic offences, including evading police. Talking at a media conference this week Tomic said he might never drive in Australia again. Pickles Auctions national manager Steve Allen said Tomic had said he now wanted to focus on his tennis career without distractions. "He's had his fun and he's ready to focus on tennis now,'' Mr Allen said. "We thought it would fetch a high price given the publicity surrounding the car and its performance enhancements. "There are only five of these BMWs in this colour in Australia.'' John Tomic attended the auction and appeared disappointed with the final bid. Punters said they were shocked the top bid was turned down. Bidder John Marshall joked he wanted to buy the BMW for his granddaughter. "I was thinking about it but she's only on her P-plates,'' he said. "It's an outrageous price for a car but I guess with all that comes with it . . . "I am here looking for a more sensible car but it was great to witness the auction. I thought for sure it would sell today.'' The Tomic family has until tomorrow morning to reconsider the $146,000 bid.

Just as HSV and FPV went big on black on their latest V8 muscle cars, and Benz has plans for an upcoming Black Series C63 Coupe, so the newest BMW M3 is a black attack. It's called the Frozen Black edition, reflecting the matt black bodywork. There will only be 12 cars for Australia with the Frozen Black package, which was developed in Germany for worldwide work. It's a typical deal on the limited-edition front, with visual tickles to justify a $17,100 increase over the $155,000 showroom sticker for a regular M3 coupe. "We managed to grab 12 cars for Australia. It's only available as a coupe and we've had a lot of interest," says Piers Scott, spokesman for BMW Australia. "Frozen Black is just a synonym for the matt paint. So that's the visual effect. We've had a number of customers, through BMW Individual, choose frozen paint finishes for their cars." BMW denies the black-mobile is reaction to the arrival of the latest Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Coupe in Australia, even though the first supplies of its obvious rival have just landed. "M3 sales are healthy. It's certainly not reactionary. It's a car that we knew there would be demand for," Scott says. The details of the Frozen Black package run to the paintwork, 19-inch black chrome wheels and black chrome exhaust, black Novillo leather in the cabin with red stitching, special leather dash trimming with red stitching, black side gills and red brake calipers. The Frozen Black M3 comes after the M3 Pure Edition and as sales of the Competition Pack for the M3 continue strongly. "The Pure edition was something just for Australia, that we concevied here. The Competition Pack is global, and so is the Frozen Black,"  says Scott. "It's only available in the Coupe. There are a batch for the 'states but I don't think you'd find them everywhere in the world."

...including clear Carparazzi pictures of the car being tested at the Nurburgring in Germany.The fuel economy focus in the new M5 will be repeated in the hot Three and European sources hint at a triple-turbocharged six-cylinder engine with extra use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic parts to cut weight.The all-new pocket rocket will be here late in 2013 at around $150,000.

for the new BMW M3 when it’s revealed early next year.The German brand is set for a public launch of its all-new 3 Series towards the end of October.Sales in Australia start early next year.

There is plenty of go left in the BMW M3, based on the way it's being teased and tizzied for extra showroom appeal. The newest tweak is an M3 sedan that fits between the regular model and the GTS coupe, a space previously reserved for the lightweight CSL. The newcomer was teased at the Shanghai Motor Show with the promise of around 325 kiloWatts, bigger brakes, firmer suspension and lightened exhaust - without the wild rear wing on the M3 GTS.

That white ute, built on a 3-Series platform, is real. Yes, it's a concept but it's also a fully-functional car. It's also not the only BMW ute. Yes, Australian golfer Stuart Appleby has one - a 2000 E39 M5 beheaded and bedded in 2008 by Deniliquin-based custom shop Southern Rod - but BMW has done the deed before.It chopped a sad E30 M3 of 1986 to become a work car that could haul parts around the factory. It's now even sadder and sits in a corner of a BMW warehouse.BMW last week put its tongue in its cheek with the announcement the M3 ute would become the fourth body variant of the M3 family. "Under the strictest secrecy, the world's first high-performance pickup (really?) has been created at the BMW M GmbH development centre," BMW's April 1 release states."The sportiest example by far in this vehicle category (really? HSV anyone?), the BMW M3 Pickup will fire the imaginations of all motorists with a deep appreciation of top performance matched by a keen practical bent. "309kW/420hp under the bonnet and a rear-axle load capacity of up to 450 kilos take the hallmark BMW M relationship between race-oriented driving pleasure and everyday utility to an entirely new level."This unique vehicle has already completed extensive test and set-up drives on the Nurburgring's Nordschleife in advance of its global unveiling on April 1, 2011." It adds that the BMW M3 Pickup is "the first BMW M3 variant in the 25-year-plus history of this model range to come with a trailer tow hitch"."Notwithstanding these unquestionable stand-out qualities, the BMW M3 Pickup will not be heading for the golf course or series development, but will retain its status as an exclusive one-off," the press release says as reality sets in."It is earmarked for use as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M GmbH. With this in mind, the BMW M3 Pickup - unlike a similar predecessor built back in the 1980s - has gone through the requisite procedures to earn its road certification, which makes it officially a truck - but one that puts a whole new spin on the meaning of the word."

Usain Bolt is used to spending his days at a track, but for once he is not the fastest thing there. The current 100m and 200m world-record holder spent some time at Ferrari's Fiorano test track in Maranello, Italy, as both passenger and driver of the 599 GTB Fiorano and 458 Italia.Ferrari test drivers Dario Benuzzi and Raffaele De Simone took the wheel first, before handing the keys to Bolt for some laps and lessons on car control."It’s a little bit like me, very reactive and determined!" Usain Bolt says, having stepped out of the 458 Italia. “I was really scared, but it was a good scare. I’m excited like a child.” he says.Usain Bolt is not new to driving fast cars. Major sponsor Puma provided Bolt with a new BMW M3 Coupe, which he crashed in April 2009 when driving on a wet highway. The crash rolled the BMW several times, but Bolt escaped with only minor injuries.

The Pure Edition offers sporty enhancements to highlight the athletic appeal of this iconic sports car at an attractive price.  Highlights include 19 M Double-spoke light alloy wheels finished exclusively in Black High-Gloss with 245/35 R19 tyres up front and 265/35 R 19 tyres at the rear, bonnet air intake in Black High-Gloss, BMW Individual kidney grille in Dark Chrome, BMW Individual side gills in Dark Chrome, and BMW Individual exhaust tips in Dark Chrome. This special edition features the same 309kW V8 and is offered in Alpine White and Black, however customers can also select from a multitude of metallic colours as cost options, including Le Mans Blue, Silverstone, Space Grey, Melbourne Red, Jerez Black, Mineral White and Interlagos Blue. Standard upholstery is a unique and distinctive Anthracite cloth with Black leather combination to extend the sporting theme into the interior of the vehicles.  Headrests are crafted from black Novillo leather and are embossed with the BMW M symbol. The M3 Sedan and M3 Coupe Pure Edition with manual transmission are available to order in the limited production run of 50 units each priced from $135,000 and $148,300 respectively.  The first customer deliveries are expected early in 2011.